Drones Should Film Surf Videos More Often

Adam Clark Estes

The video above shows nearly six breathtaking minutes of surfing footage captured at Steamer Lane in Santa Cruz, California. The filmmakers strapped a GoPro HERO3 to a DJI Phantom quadcopter and took it several hundred metres into the air, affording majestic views along the coastline where dozens of surfers are bobbing in the water. There’s even a pass by a critter-covered island off shore and a cute little lighthouse on a point. Given the angles and the distance, the shots would be impossible without some sort of aircraft. And it seems doubtful that anyone would charter a helicopter for a Sunday afternoon of surfing. So go go gadget drone! You can do good things too. [Eric Cheng]